Essay on Ethics in Pornography

Stephanie T Butler
100922639
March 11th, 2014
PHIL 1550 B
Matthew MacLennan Pornography, the material that is responsible for many lonely men and women to experience some sort of pleasure, while avoiding the physical, and emotional aspect of a sexual partner. In other words, to avoid the hassle of nagging, judgement, or perhaps the modesty of a potential sexual partner. Many people often view pornography as harmless, pleasurable, and part of their private sexual lives. When pornography becomes violent, however, it tends to contradict the main reasons pornography is permissible. For instance, pornography is harmful, it is harmful because it is pleasurable, and this dilemma affects all of society; not just the private sexual lives of individuals. Simultaneously, violent pornography creates a justification for the violent acts being portrayed. In other words, I will be arguing that violent pornography is harmful, discriminating, inequitable, and is becoming desensitized as it continues to be produce, therefore, pornography should be banned.
It is important for people to voice their opinions during all sorts of arguments. Moreover, it would be immoral to silence people’s right to speak freely. An opinion is greatly shaped by the authoritative or governmental figures, or the side of an argument to which the person feels a tendency to abide by (LaFollette, 2012). To possess a strong opinion, according to Mill, there must be discussion to show how the experience is to be interpreted (LaFollette, 2012). The reason being that facts, by itself, are not strong enough to be used without comments to bring out their meaning (LaFollette, 2012). People hold various opinions that may or may not conflict with the opinions of others, which can lead to harm. A problem arises, however, when free speech overrides harm of society as a whole.
Harm could involve physical, emotional, and social harm that deliberately inflicts injury people (Dictionary.com, 2014). The question to examine here would be if free speech does, in fact, outweighs harm of society as a whole? John Stuart Mill would respond by saying that society should not restrict speech if the opinion to be repressed is false or true, because what matters is how the person argues their opinion to the point that their opponent becomes intemperate (LaFollette, 2012). In other words, a strong case for an argument can supersede the harm that it inflicts as long as it can be justified that the harm done is worth more than any alternative route (LaFollette, 2012). Similar to the utilitarian view of morality, the action is based on how good the consequences are compared to the alternatives (LaFollette, 2012). Mill, therefore, is a utilitarian who believes that free speech’s consequences are just as good as or better than any of the alternatives (LaFollette, 2012). When this perspective is applied to pornography, however, free speech is questioned as being a separate component in the pornography industry (LaFollette, 2012). Ultimately, many theorists in favour of my argument disregards violent pornography as more significant than the harm that it causes. As previously mentioned, harm includes deliberately inflicting injury on others, whether it is physical, emotional, or social. In pornography, harm is constantly incorporated as a stimulation for sexual arousal (LaFollette, 2012). Pornography is defined as the graphic sexually explicit subordination of women through pictures or words that also includes women dehumanized as sexual objects, things, or commodities; enjoying pain or humiliation or rape; being tied up, cut up, mutilated, bruised; in postures of sexual submission; reduced to body parts, penetrated by objects or animals, presented in scenarios of degradation, injury, torture; shown as filthy or inferior, or hurt in a context that makes these conditions sexual (LaFollette, 2012). According to…

Related Documents: Essay on Ethics in Pornography

IIH – 6
12 May 2014
Child Pornography Effects and Punishments
Child pornography has become a three billion dollar annual industry. These numbers will continue to grow as Internet accessibility remains unprotected. What is often overlooked in this industry is the effect child pornography has on both parties: the victim and the offender. Offenders are given no guidance to change once they are released from prison and this only makes distributors and users of child pornography more surreptitious, not…

Pornography: The drug of the century
Every day, you and I are bombarded with sexually charged imagery. Naked or nearly naked women are on the covers of magazines, in movies, on TV, and, of course, in pornography that is readily available on the internet. Just the super bowl alone attracts over 108 million viewers; consequently, most of the commercials during the game were about sex on some level, and the “halftime show” featuring Beyoncé execution a strip club act. No matter, how much we try to…

Pornography Should Stay
Pornography too many could be defined as explicit sexual interactions that some use in order to cause sexual appeal and arousal. Although many people may disagree completely, some could define it as just a way of life. Millions of people everywhere could view pornography as a career opportunity or serves as a serious addiction. Pornography is something that most people are very aware of. It is something that has been brought into our society and created many controversies…

Enrique goycoolea
Professor White
P.S 102
05/10/2013
Adult Pornography
Does the state have the right to tell me what I can and can’t look at in my own home? Can you imagine a world in which the government prosecuted you as a criminal for looking at pornography within the walls of your own home? Well to address that problem the United States regulates that behavior. Generally speaking they do not have the right to do so. With a few exceptions; if it involves children. The Supreme Court in Stanley…

Xinyi Chen
Phil 108
05.13.2014
Pornography
The pornography’s definition is different on difference countries. The history of mankind understanding to pornography is constantly changing. As the ancient Greeks started using "pornography" when the word refers specifically to describe life as a prostitute, prostitutes when the price is not low, "porn" one word of praise means more than contempt. Ancient Babylon girl after sexual maturity necessary to Aphrodite temple with the strange man up, otherwise…

movement against the pornography industry in Canada. Religious and Feminist groups were concerned about the harmful effects regarding the danger and degradation of women. The opposition to this movement was that pornography was a freedom of expression and sexual orientation. This brought about many political debates and controversies about what is ethically right and what is a personal freedom. This created many problems for the Canadian government on how to legislate pornography and up hold the Common…

Andrea Wilhelm
Christian Ethics
Dr. Bauer
March 25, 2014
Pornography
As I grew up, my parents always instructed me according to the bible in abstaining myself from any kind of sexual interaction until I get married, they backed up this moral principle according to the Commandments. Due to this I am going to be using the Bible and the Commandments. It is sad the fact that the world has become so mundane that everyone sees pornography as a normal activity. However I was raised this way, the world…

Pornography and New Media
Pornography, depending on how one defines it, has existed for thousands of years in the forms of picture, sculpture, performance, and writing. Over the centuries the advent of new media has broadened the flow of distribution of pornography and erotica to the masses, making it readily accessible. From the printing press, to photography, to film, each new medium has provoked a call for censorship from concerned citizens during the early stages of its existence. Pornography…

profile, Men who fit the rapists profile are also more likely than other men to have high levels of arousal in response to violent pornography.
The Family and Pornography
-Married men who are involved in pornography feel less satisfied with their conjugal relations and less emotionally attached to their wives. Wives notice and are upset by the difference.
-Pornography use is a pathway to infidelity and divorce, and is frequently a major factor in these family disasters.
-Among couples affected…

Words 1273 - Pages 6

* Test names and other trademarks are the property of the respective trademark holders. None of the trademark holders are affiliated with this website.